Manel (Spanish footballer, born 1973)

Manel Martínez Fernández (born 3 November 1973), known simply as Manel, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a centre forward.

During his extensive career, he was mainly associated to CD Logroñés.

Football career

Born in Ripollet, Barcelona, Catalonia, Manel started his career with local CE Sabadell FC, signing for CD Logroñés in 1995 and scoring 27 second division goals in his first year, with La Liga promotion. In the following season the Riojan side was relegated again, but he proceeded to add a further 44 goals in the next second-tier campaigns, being one of the all-time club best.

Manel then moved between RCD Espanyol (appearing rarely) and Sporting de Gijón in the following seasons, also having a brief spell abroad with Derby County[1] where he netted three times in 16 official games, including twice in a 5–1 home routing of Preston North End for the Football League Championship.[2]

Returning home in May 2004,[3] Manel successively represented CF Badalona, Sabadell, SE Eivissa-Ibiza and Lorca Deportiva CF. After retiring from play in 2009, having appeared in 239 matches the two top divisions of Spanish football combined with 96 goals, he joined UE Sant Andreu – also in his native region – as a youth coach.

References

  1. ↑ Burley boosted by Manel; BBC Sport, 23 February 2004
  2. ↑ Derby 5–1 Preston; BBC Sport, 17 April 2004
  3. ↑ Derby duo sign contracts; BBC Sport, 12 May 2004

External links

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